Chapter 36

Hu Xiaotian said: "Father, where do you plan to send me?"

Hu Buwei said: "Xichuan!"

Hu Xiaotian had also familiarized himself with Dakang's geography and history during this period; Xichuan lies in the southwest of Dakang, its location remote, bordering Miao Border to the south and Shajia to the west. The remoteness is secondary; the main issue is that Xichuan is the territory of his future father-in-law. His future father-in-law is the Military Governor of Jiannan Xichuan, Li Tianheng. That is a powerful regional official; sending him to Xichuan for an official post is likely out of this consideration.

Hu Xiaotian blinked his eyes, staring at his father for a long while, making Hu Buwei feel a bit uneasy, thinking: "Father hasn't shoved me into a pit of fire; it's all painstaking effort, wanting me to stay clear of political turmoil; Father just wants to preserve this lone sapling of our old Hu family."

Hu Xiaotian held back for a while before saying: "So you're planning to make me a live-in son-in-law?"

Hu Buwei shook his head and said: "Tian'er, as a father I only have this one son; do you think I would harm you?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, "That's not certain; you are indeed my father, but you are first and foremost a politician. Politicians like you are often indifferent to family and friendship, willing to sacrifice everything for political gain. If you truly had my best interests at heart initially, you wouldn't have engaged me to that disabled daughter of the Li family." However he only muttered this to himself, not speaking it out.

Hu Buwei said: "The marriage pact is one matter, taking office is another..." He sighed and continued: "Your forceful taking of Tang Wen Zheng's daughter is known to the Li family."

Hu Xiaotian felt a secret joy; knowing this is better—if the Li family dislikes his misconduct, canceling this marriage pact would be best.

Hu Buwei said: "The Li family proposed postponing your marriage by two years; after thinking it over, I agreed."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Two years? Do they think they can just postpone it? Do they still regard our Hu family? Father, I see they don't even put you in their eyes; calling off this marriage would be fine."

Hu Buwei's face sank instantly, and he let out a cold snort. Actually he had other plans in mind; ever since he saw the old emperor hesitating over the succession, his heart began to waver. Victory makes a king, defeat makes a bandit; he had personally witnessed the brutal struggle of the princes for the throne. If Crown Prince Long Yiqing smoothly inherits the great rule, then this marriage alliance between the Hu and Li families would be perfect. But if something changes midway and Long Yiqing fails to ascend the throne, he would face exile at best, death at worst. As his staunch supporter, Li Tianheng would inevitably be implicated. Should things truly develop to the worst step, he might well be dragged down because of his affinity through marriage to Li Tianheng. The Li family's proactive proposal to postpone the wedding by two years actually played right into Hu Buwei's hands; two years would be enough for the imperial succession struggle to be settled. Even if the worst situation occurs, Hu Buwei would still have ample opportunity to sever ties for righteousness and cancel this marriage contract. Hu Buwei knows that this future father-in-law is no ordinary person; his proposal to postpone the wedding is certainly not merely because he heard of his son's misconduct—it must be based on some political consideration.

In fact, to Hu Buwei the marriage pact is nothing more than a piece of paper that adds frosting to the cake, with no real binding force. He can naturally see his son's resistance and dissatisfaction regarding the marriage, and he can understand his son's feelings, but he believes his son is still immature; what man of honor lacks a wife? Even if he marries the Li family's daughter and brings her home, it doesn't mean he must spend his life guarding that disabled wife—as long as his political standing remains unchanged, the Hu family won't change; his disabled wife will have servants to attend to her, and no one will stop him from taking concubines. What he marries is not a wife, but political status and family background.

But he cannot say these words outright to his son. Although he inwardly scorns loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness, he still needs to maintain a respectable image in front of his son.

Hu Buwei said: "Minister of Personnel Shi Bucui and I are thick as thieves; I'll ask him to help arrange this."

Hu Xiaotian feigned sadness and said: "Father, since you've decided, I have nothing more to say." Actually this guy couldn't wait to leave Hu Buwei's side as soon as possible; far from the emperor's reach, even going to a remote region to take a minor post would be fine.

Hu Buwei said: "I have an idea; for this posting away from the capital, try to let as few people know as possible, for I don't want you to be disturbed too much."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Father, you mean you don't want outsiders to know about our relationship?"

Hu Buwei nodded and said: "Even the Li family, I don't want them to know; you've grown up beside me, always pampered, never having faced any hardships; this time going out, this is a perfect opportunity to really temper yourself."

Hu Xiaotian bowed deeply and said: "I understand your painstaking efforts, Father."

Seeing his son so sensible, Hu Buwei felt reluctant again and sighed softly: "I haven't yet told your mother about this; if she found out, she would certainly not agree."

Hu Xiaotian thought, "Please don't change your mind; I've finally got this chance to go solo, you need to be ruthless and send me away," but on the surface he put on an act, saying: "I don't want to leave Mother either!" Hypocritical, hypocritical to the extreme.

Hu Buwei said: "This matter is settled; I will explain it to your mother myself."

Hu Buwei's decisions are usually hard to change; in his eyes, this son of his is smart and quick-witted, even has a bit of dumb luck, but he is still not mature enough, fond of ease, clinging to his parents, accustomed to living under their protection, unwilling to leave the prosperous capital. But Hu Buwei never imagined that this person does not understand this son; Hu Xiaotian's reluctance and reluctance are almost all pretended; comfort and enjoyment are something no one can dislike, but compared to freedom they amount to nothing; as for this pair of parents, Hu Xiaotian may feel grateful and respectful, but he does not cling to them; there is no normal parent-child affection between him and them. If they were together every day, it would still make Hu Xiaotian feel somewhat awkward.

In the following days, Hu An disappeared like a stone sunk in the sea, and the theft of the vermilion-script iron certificate was not leaked; everything seemed to return to calm. Hu Xiaotian became much more honest; the events at home, more or less, still affected his psyche; perhaps one day disaster will befall the Hu family, and as a member of the Hu family, he is likely to suffer collective punishment.

Hu Buwei remained as calm as usual; the day after returning from the Eastern Capital, his life returned to normal—each day either attending court or handling official duties, appearing as if he no longer worried about the vermilion-script iron certificate theft, and as if he had forgotten arranging for Hu Xiaotian to leave the capital for an official post.

Although Hu Xiaotian clearly wanted to leave, he could not express his inner longing in front of his father; as time passed day by day, his mood grew irritable—could it be that this old man has suddenly changed his mind about letting him go to an official post?

Since the incident of being ambushed and attacked on the street, Hu Buwei has further strengthened protection for his son; the previous retinue of six servants has now expanded to eight, and he has instructed these eight to guard his son without leaving his side whenever he goes out, even when he uses the toilet, no exception.

Such days offer no freedom at all; Hu Xiaotian is like a bird locked in a cage, and the more this is so, the more he longs for freedom.

In the blink of an eye, seven days have passed; early that morning, Hu Xiaotian came to Easy Origin Hall; today is a rather special day, the day Murong Feiyan's wound has healed and the stitches can be removed.

When Hu Xiaotian arrived at Easy Origin Hall, he found the chief Li Yifeng and the second chief Yuan Shiqing waiting there. Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, these two gentlemen are indeed dedicated; even though no patients have arrived, they came ahead of time.

Yuan Shiqing was already here seeing patients, which is nothing unusual; as for Li Yifeng, he came especially to see Hu Xiaotian. Since that day when he personally witnessed Hu Xiaotian treating Murong Feiyan's wounds, Li Yifeng was deeply shocked by Hu Xiaotian's skilled surgical technique; without exaggeration, Hu Xiaotian made him suddenly realize an entirely new medical field—before this, he had only read about some surgical stories in medical classics, such as scraping bone to heal wounds, or opening the abdomen to retrieve objects, but in reality he had never seen such a procedure. Li Yifeng originally thought Hu Xiaotian was the disciple of some medical sage, but after learning that this fellow is the sole son of Minister of Revenue Hu Buwei, he couldn't help but be greatly astonished; speaking of it, he and Hu Xiaotian also share some fateful connection.